Latest news with #RonanHale
Press and Journal
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Duncan Shearer: Winning the Championship is priority, but Ross County cannot let Premier Sports Cup cash chance slip past
Ross County started their competitive season with a bit of whimper – drawing 1-1 with League Two Stranraer in their Premier Sports Cup opener before losing a penalty shoot-out. For full-timers, who will have had plenty of time on the training pitch this summer, and who have aspirations of winning the Championship and bouncing back to the top-flight at the first attempt, a false start against part-timers who finished third-bottom of the SPFL last season has to go down as a disappointment. Don Cowie has, however, brought in nine new signings during the transfer window, including some good experience, and perhaps they just needed a little bit more time. It was no surprise County's goal at Stranraer came via now-Northern Ireland international cap Ronan Hale. Staggies supporters will have taken great encouragement from Hale's interview with The Press and Journal over the weekend, where he appeared to commit his future to the club. I hope he does stay beyond the window, because I've enjoyed watching the boy. I think he's been a fantastic signing for them, and they will need his goals to fulfil their Premiership promotion ambition this season. Ross County's second Premier Sports Cup group B game is another big long trip – this time to League One Queen of the South. Cowie is building his side up for the league season, which is the priority, yes, however, they still need a result in this one. While the manager will be most concerned about getting a shape and a balance to his side at this stage in the year, obviously he wants to qualify out of that League Cup group. Of course he does. County have taken a financial hit with relegation, so they cannot treat the cup as an extension of pre-season. They need to try to progress, because, obviously, the further they progress, the more money they'll get. They're not going to get the riches Chelsea got for winning the Club World Cup on Sunday, but every penny's going to be a prisoner this year for Ross County. Another interesting interview in the P&J in recent days was David Wotherspoon opening up on why he decided to return to Caley Thistle and help them get out of League One this term. The veteran, like several Inverness players, past and present, pointed to the draw of boss Scott Kellacher's magnetic personality – but I imagine the quality of the surface at Caledonian Stadium was also a lure for as gifted a player as the long-time St Johnstone attacker is. Caley Thistle's competitive action gets under way with a Premier Sports Cup home group game against Elgin City on Tuesday, which will be the chance for a positive start in front of what should be a good crowd. But I'm convinced Wotherspoon can drive them to success in the third-tier this term. He's a fantastic player. And he'll play in that division very easily. They just need to add goals – they seem to have everything else in regards to the shape of their team. I would love to see somebody there who can get them 20-plus goals, because I think it will be difficult, given Billy Mckay's coaching commitments and advancing years, for him to be able to do it. He doesn't get in behind defences as often as he used to. But the need to bring in a goalscorer will be being balanced against the financial constraints at ICT. While Alan Savage has taken them out of administration, the last thing they will want is to go down the same road as they did before, with the club almost going to the wall. They have been creative in their business already – like taking a chance on talented Highland League player Jordan Alonge from Forres Mechanics. Alan and chief executive Charlie Christie will be very wary about pushing things too far this summer – but also conscious of doing what they can, alongside the manager, to get Caley Thistle back up the divisions again. Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin will have been pleased with his side's first pre-season outing in front of the Red Army – with 2,200 making the short trip to Cove Rangers to watch the Scottish Cup winners tune up for the new campaign. Despite eight changes, and a switch of goalkeeper, the Dons recorded a clean sheet and a 2-0 win, via goals in each half from Ante Palaversa and Nicky Devlin. These games are not about results, as before you play these pre-season matches, you've basically already decided, injuries notwithstanding, when each substitution will be made. But supporters still don't like seeing their side struggle against perceived lesser opponents. However, Aberdeen came through the bounce game against League One Cove in solid enough fashion. Again this summer, Thelin has made quite a few signings – with more to come, I reckon – while a few faces have also exited Pittodrie. There will still be integration, as well as building up the extra bit of fitness across the squad, to be achieved in further friendlies before the Premiership kick-off in August. I understand there is another closed-doors friendly away from home pencilled in for the Dons this week, before a fantastic clash with Ipswich Town on Friday, July 25th, which will be a great game for everybody – most of all for older fans who remember the early 1980s European meetings between the clubs.
Press and Journal
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Ross County boss has sharp message for players ahead of Queen of the South cup trip
Don Cowie is urging his Ross County players to demand more from each other to get their season off and running – following a demoralising opening. A 1-1 draw at League Two hosts Stranraer on Saturday ended in a 6-5 penalty shoot-out defeat for Cowie's Championship side as the competitive season started with a bump for the Highlanders in the Premier Sports Cup Group B. With County relegated from the Premiership by Livingston in the play-off final, there has been a huge turnaround in personnel with nine new players in and 12 players out at the Staggies, excluding seven loanees returning to the clubs. There will be a bedding-in period, but County have made their Championship title aim clear – with chairman Roy MacGregor investing heavily to boost their chance of getting back to the top-flight next year. The Staggies' league season starts on August 2 at Airdrie, but next up in cup is a trip to Championship opponents Queen of the South before home ties against Edinburgh City, of League Two, and Partick Thistle from the Championship. The Jags top the League Cup section after the first round of matches following their 4-1 win against Edinburgh, with Stranraer following on two points, County on one, and Queens yet to play. A lacklustre first period at Stanraer was saved by Ronan Hale's goal just before half-time and Tommy Sharp's goal for the hosts arned the shoot-out. Keeper Josh Lane, signed by Stranraer on Saturday morning on loan from Hamilton, made three saves to help seal a Blues bonus-point victory. At half-time, County gaffer Cowie took off Dylan Smith, Arron Lyall and Kieran Phillips, replacing them with Ben Crompton, Adam Emslie and Jordan White. That was a reaction to a poor first period – but Cowie says more players could have been taken off at the midway point. He said: 'I expect so much more from every one of the players. 'From where we want to get to, we need to put demands on one another to up our game – individually and collectively. 'Just because we scored the goal, it didn't change (my view of) what I witnessed in the first half. 'I took three players off, but it could easily have been three more. 'We did get a reaction at the start of the second half. but we were not ruthless enough. 'We didn't take our chances to make it two and – at that stage – you always give the opposition a glimmer of hope to get an equaliser.' Cowie felt the outcome in the shoot-out was an indication of how Stranraer went about their business, chasing the extra point. He said: 'Our strikers (Ronan Hale and Jordan White) missed the first two penalties, which gave Stranraer the opportunity to go on and win it. 'Brad (Foster) made a couple of saves to prolong the shoot-out, but it was probably a reflection of the whole game that Stranraer did just that wee bit more to get the victory in the end.'
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hale not thinking of transfer speculation
Northern Ireland striker Ronan Hale says he is just concentrating on continuing to score goals for Ross County amid speculation about the 26-year-old's future after relegation from the Scottish Premiership. (Press & Journal), externalRead Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dundee lose & St Mirren suffer shootout pain at Arbroath - Scottish League Cup round-up
Steven Pressley suffered home defeat in his competitive debut as Dundee head coach, with Championship side Airdrieonians causing the shock of the opening day of the Premier Sports Cup group rivals St Mirren were held to a goalless draw away to League 1 champions Arbroath and missed out on the bonus point by losing the penalty Motherwell did manage to take an extra point after edging Clyde on spot kicks after drawing 2-2 with their League 2 Ross County lost their shootout after a 1-1 draw away to fourth-tier Championship winners Falkirk fired seven goals without reply away to Highland League side Brechin City and there were wins for Premiership rivals Kilmarnock and St Johnstone. Group A Dylan Tait scored a hat-trick as Falkirk cruised to victory in signing Brian Graham set up fellow veteran Scott Arfield to strike Falkirk's opener and the former Rangers midfielder added the second from the penalty Tait added three more, with winger Alfie Agyeman and forward Ross MacIver adding the the other group game, League 2 side Spartans came from behind to upset Championship visitors Queen's Fowler fired the Glasgow side ahead in the first-half, but Bailey Dall headed the second-half equaliser before Cammy Russell grabbed the winner from the penalty spot. Group B Northern Ireland striker Ronan Hale fired County ahead just before the break against Stranraer, but Tommy Sharp's close-range strike sent the tie into penalties, which the hosts won means second-tier rivals Partick Thistle lead the group after Friday's 4-1 win away to Edinburgh from Cammy Logan, Robbie Crawford, Logan Chalmers and City's Robbie Mahon gave Mark Wilson the perfect start as permanent head coach before Tiwi Daramola's reply for the League 2 side just before the break. Group C Player-manager Rhys McCabe set up Chris Mochrie to coolly slot Airdrieonians ahead early on at Dens Park and Dundee were unable to early goal also settled the group's other game, Luke Rankin's 35-yard drive giving third-tier Alloa Athletic victory away to Bonnyrigg Rose, who are now back in the Lowland League after relegation. Group D Both ties in Group D went to spot add to St Mirren's misery as they were held to a goalless draw in Arbroath before losing 4-2 on penalties, captain Mark O'Hara was sent off for a second booking two minutes from Martin Rennie, Forfar Athletic's summer signing from Clyde, headed his side into the lead before hosts Annan Athletic replied through Aidan Smith's second-half penalty, but it was the visitors who prevailed 4-2 in the shootout. Group E Hamilton Academical, relegated to League 1, scored two second-half goals to ease aside fourth-tier hosts Stirling Smith struck and Kyle MacDonald headed in to give League 1 Accies all three of Midlothian are playing Dunfermline Athletic in the evening kick-off. Group F St Johnstone came from behind to avoid an upset against SPFL newcomers East Lowland League champions led through John Robertson's early free-kick, but summer signing Jamie Gullan replied with a set piece of his own and strikes from Adama Sidibeh and Makenzie Kirk secured the points for the Championship midfielder Dylan Easton scored two penalties in Raith Rovers' 5-1 win away to Elgin Rowe, Lewis Vaughan and Josh Mullin grabbed the Championship side's other goals, with Jack Murray replying for the League 2 hosts. Group G Summer signing James Hilton gave Clyde a shock early lead as he chipped over stranded Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward after a defensive Maswanhise soon headed the Steelmen level and put the Premiership side ahead after the break, but Liam Scullion nodded the League 2 hosts back on terms only for Well to win the shootout and the bonus point Morton won 4-2 away to Blues, summer signing Kris Moore, Ali Crawford and Zak Delaney scored for the Championship visitors, with Oliver Colloty's penalty and Seb Ross replying for the League 1 side. Group H Kilmarnock eased to a two-goal win over Highland League champions Brora Rangers in Stuart Kettlewell's first competitive game in charge.A right-foot shot from 18-year-old defender Ben Brannan gave the Premiership side the half-time lead, with summer signing Djenairo Daniels firing the second 10 minutes from Livingston also won on the road, 2-1 away to League 2 champions East Muirhead gave the visitors the lead from close range in first-half added time before Hearts loanee Macaulay Tait extended their advantage from similar distance just after the Slattery's goal from outside the area reduced the arrears before East Fife's Mamadou Bah was sent off for a second bookable offence deep into added time.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hale would 'be an ideal strike partner for Murray... a no brainer'
We asked for your views on whether or not Dundee should sign Ross County striker Ronan what some of you said:Gary: Of course you'd take him. Him and Simon Murray upfront, if they get played as a two are proven goal scorers in the Premiership and it'd seemingly have the makings of a decent pair. Will he come? Or will we even go in for him? As a Dundee fan we've learnt transfer speculation is usually a whole load of stuff and nonsense, but we can Yes definitely! No brainer. Hale would be a great partner for Murray, between the two players last season you have nearly 30 goals, this would be the signing of the close season for sure !Thomas: Yes, he could be a good partner alongside Murray, the new Tommy Coyne and Keith Wright If it's possible for Dundee to get Hale, they certainly should. He'd be an ideal strike partner for Murray and we know Hale can score goals in the top flight. Most other potential signings up front would represent a much bigger We need to try and hold on to Josh Mulligan. Hale would be a good signing, there are a lot of good players in the market now but will they come to Dundee?Alan: Hale would be a marquee signing for Dundee and show the club have ambition - not many signs of that up to now! We should be competing for the top six every season and pushing the boat out, for once, on players like Hale will make that I'd like to see Dundee show some fresh ambition with our signings this year under a new coach, but the owners haven't spent hard cash for transfers historically, which would have to happen to sign him. More loan deals are likely. We definitely need support for Murray.
